New Zealand All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo drops a pass against Tonga during the Pool C match between New Zealand and Tonga. Photo / Brett Phibbs.
Chris Rattue rates the best and the worst from the All Blacks' 47-9 win over Tonga this morning.
New Zealand
Ben Smith 8
Lots to like and typical high involvement despite the odd lesser moment.
Nehe Milner-Skudder 8
Created and scored tries. Bounced around. Played his way into the big games while Naholo went further the other way.
Conrad Smith 5
About as anonymous as he has ever been. One smart touch for Ben Smith try. Hemmed in by up-and-in Tongan defence.
Ma'a Nonu 6
Nondescript way to celebrate his 100th test. Wrestling-type tackles and runs. Late try much deserved for great career.
Waisake Naholo 4
His selection has failed. Awful try stuff-up, minimal involvement. Charles Piutau would have been a better World Cup pick.
Dan Carter 7
Consummate game with nice touches marred by bloopers off the boot. Copped horrible tip tackle.
Aaron Smith 7
Superbly manipulated space for Woodcock and SBW tries. Passing and options still not at peak though.
Kieran Read 7
Excellent match work rate wise and late lineout steals, but handling lapses and lack of creativity.
Sam Cane 8
Huge game with and without the ball. Still lacks that x-factor McCaw presence...a tough hurdle to overcome.
Jerome Kaino 8
Buried in the tight like never before. One muscular charge. Another locking cameo.
Sam Whitelock 6
Busy but when the heat was on not confrontational enough.
Luke Romano 7
A little more noticeable than Whitelock.
Owen Franks 8
Met a lot of scrum resistance but dynamic game around the field.
Dane Coles 7
Busy. Efficient. Nothing startling.
Tony Woodcock 5
Got beaten up on one gang tackle. Looked worse for wear. Gave the impression he is just clinging on.
Reserves
Keven Mealamu (Coles, 65m) 4
Missed a tackle, not much else.
Wyatt Crockett (Woodcock, 42m) 5
Big chance but not enough with the ball which is his calling card.
Ben Franks 6
Tough first scrum a tighthead, spared further scrutiny by uncontested rules. Busy enough.
Brodie Retallick (Romano, 48m) 7
Seemed to make a bit of a difference.
Liam Messam (Whitelock, 65m) 6
Energetic cameo.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (A. Smith, 71m) 6
Got heavily involved in short time without anything startling.
Beauden Barrett (Naholo, 56m) 5
One superb chip to create a try but quite anonymous apart from that.
Sonny Bill Williams (C. Smith, 61m) 7
Immaculate defence and lovely run into space for try.
TONGA
Vungakoto Lilo 4
Didn't contribute a lot on defence or attack.
Telusa Veainu 5
Okay but much more was expected form one of their World cup best.
Siale Piutau 7
Sensational game on defence, including great reads for spot tackles. Attack didn't match. Poor tackle on Barrett.
Latiume Fosita 6
Plenty of good stuff without setting the world on fire.
Fetu'u Vainikolo 6
Worked hard to find the game and with some success.
Kurt Morath 6
Nice goalkicking kept Tongan spirits up. Not much of a threat with the ball though.
Sonatane Takulua 7
Ripped into the game from the outset and put energy into Tonga's game.
Viliami Ma'afu 7
Burrowed away without getting close to rampant.
Nili Latu 8
Wow of a game from the captain, including loads of runs, without classic openside contesting on the ground.
Sione Kalamafoni 8
Memorable driving tackle on Woodcock highlight in terrific game. Probably Tonga's best.
Joe Tuineau 6
Good on the ground. Tonga could have done with more in the air.
Lua Lokotui 6
Ditto for Tuineau. Not enough pressure on All Blacks' lineout.
Halani Aulika 7
Led an excellent scrum and showed up now and then elsewhere, but ran out of steam.
Elvis Taione 6
Early lineout problems cost Tonga but certainly not all bad.
Soane Tonga'uhia 7
Big effort from the veteran and scrums to be proud of.
Image 1 of 13: Sonny Bill Williams takes a selfie before the Pool C match between New Zealand and Tonga. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Reserves
Paula Ngauamo (Taione, 48m) 3
Shocking lifting tackle on Carter probably deserved red.
Sona Taumalolo (Tonga'uhia, 54m) 5
Couldn't find his renowned ball running to lift Tonga.
Sila Puafisi (Aulika, 69m) 4
Hard to judge on these minutes.
Sitiveni Mafi (Tuineau, 53m) 6
Got his hands on the ball without making huge impression.
Jack Ram (Ma'afu, 65m) 5
Worked to get involved but damage done by the time he arrived and a big knock on.
Samisoni Fisilau (Takulua, 69m) 5
Busy but not threatening.
Viliami Tahitua (Morath, 61m) 4
No real impression.
Will Helu (Veainau, 65m) 4
Hard to spot.
Matt Sherratt will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the Six Nations.
